Comparison of Mathematical Approximation Methods for Mine Ventilation Network Analysis
Farhang Sereshki1, Amir Saffari2, Ebrahim Elahi3
Citation : Farhang Sereshki, Amir Saffari, Ebrahim Elahi, Comparison of Mathematical Approximation Methods for Mine Ventilation Network Analysis International Journal of Mining Science 2016, 2(1) : 1-14
Various manual and computerized methods for analysis of mine ventilation network are presented. The selection of a suitable method depends on the target of network analysis. If the purpose of analysis is investigation of the effect of fans on mine network, using computerized methods based on mathematical approximation methods is better. The most notable feature has been the development of computerised mine ventilation network analysis. This has made prediction of fan requirements and airflow distributions in complex mine ventilation circuits feasible using desktop computers. A number of methods of mathematical approximations are presented such as the Hardy Cross method and its modified versions, Newton-Raphson technique, critical path, linear analysis, non-linear programming and optimization techniques. Using of Hardy Cross method in ventilation software has become common. In recent years, the use of Newton-Raphson technique in mine ventilation network analysis has been growing. Accordingly, in this paper, a model is developed for faster convergence to the final solution based on the Hardy Cross method that is named "conflation model of Hardy Cross method". Also, a more precise use of the Newton-Raphson technique in mine ventilation network analysis is also performed.